In what seems a remarkably cynical, small-minded maneuver, the Republican Party in Maine has chosen to hang a popular video game around the Democratic candidate for Maine State Senate’s neck like an albatross, accusing her of being unfit for office because she plays World of Warcraft.

“Colleen Lachowicz is a Democrat candidate for Maine State Senate,” begins a disclaimer at the top of a spartan, orange-on-white website “paid for and authorized” by the Maine Republican Party and disparagingly dubbed “Colleen’s World.”

Then the long knives come out: “In Colleen’s online fantasy world, she gets away with crude, vicious and violent comments like the ones below. Maine needs a State Senator that lives in the real world, not in Colleen’s fantasy world.” The claim parallels a press release, also sent by the Maine GOP, with the tabloid-esque subject line: “Democratic Senate Candidate Colleen Lachowicz’s Disturbing Alter-Ego Revealed.”

It’s an ironically crude and viciously parochial allegation — one that’s likely to offend anyone who’s into video games, or just imaginary worlds in general. Fan of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings books? Enjoy an occasional game of Chutes & Ladders with your kids? Ever play Dungeons & Dragons? Do not pass go, and don’t even think about running for political office.

What’s next, “I didn’t roll the dice” is the new “I didn’t inhale”?

But no, I’m guessing the misguided folks who decided that using faulty video game stereotypes to bludgeon Lachowicz (and, by association, gamers of all stripes) might argue it’s also about what Lachowicz said while discussing gameplay mechanics, waxing political and using adult language in online forums.

Stuff like:

So I’m a level 68 orc rogue girl. That means I stab things…a lot … Who would have thought that a peace-lovin’, social worker and democrat would enjoy that?!

Or:

We’re progressive…in fact we joke about being a socialist guild.

Or:

But the point isn’t really about the the comparison to 9/11 so much as what a tremendous opportunity we have, our president has to create a unity of purpose, joining liberals, teabaggers, citizens to take on this task.

Speaking of online comments, The Maine GOP should probably watch their own a little more closely. In a Facebook response to Republican activist (and BDN blogger) Chris Dixon who spoke out against the Party’s actions, they wrote “Chris – You probably like seeing your name in the paper, but next time you have a problem with something the party does, grow a set and give us a call.” They also refer to Romney’s performance in the debate as an “ass kicking,” the exact same language they criticize Lachowicz for using (and censored with asterisks) on their attack site.

The rest of Lachowicz’s comments can be found strewn about “Colleen’s World” below a giant picture of her WoW character with the caption: “Colleen Lachowicz’s self-created identity, Santiaga is a Level 85 Orc Assassination Rogue in the World of Warcraft.”

By comparison, the only real-life picture of Lachowicz shown is a tiny thumbnail scraped from her campaign site — a thumbnail that’s been edited to cycle between her face and the face of her WoW alter ego. The Maine GOP is also distributing the following flier:

Maine GOP / Boing Boing

The implication is clear: Voters are supposed to identify Lachowicz as her in-game avatar — a giant green-skinned, purple-mohawked, knife-and-spiked-sickle-wielding creature who likes to “stab things…a lot.” According to the Maine Republican Party, vote for Lachowicz and you’re voting for that.

Lachowicz was understandably surprised and troubled by the attacks.

“I think it’s weird that I’m being targeted for playing online games,” she said in a statement on her campaign site. “Apparently I’m in good company since there are 183 million other Americans who also enjoy online games. What’s next? Will I be ostracized for playing Angry Birds or Words with Friends? If so, guilty as charged!”

“What’s really weird is that the Republicans are going after my hobbies instead of talking about their record while they’ve been running Augusta for the last two years. Instead of talking about what they’re doing for Maine people, they’re making fun of me for playing video games. Did you know that more people over the age of 50 play video games than under the age of 18? As a gamer, I’m in good company with folks like Jodie Foster, Vin Diesel, Mike Myers, and Robin Williams. Maybe it’s the Republican Party that is out of touch.”

Out of touch indeed about video games. According to the Entertainment Software Association’s 2012 Essential Facts About the Computer and Video Game Industry report, the average U.S. household owns at least one game device, half own an average of two dedicated game consoles, the average gamer is 30 years old and has played video games for over a decade. Forty-seven percent of all gamers are women, and women aged 18 or older are one of the games industry’s fastest growing demographics.

What’s more, Lachowicz has been open about her sometime hobby from the start. In December 2011, one of Lachowicz’s guild-mates posted the following to Daily Kos:

One of our original founding members, Colleen Lachowicz, better known in the guild as Santiaga or Ralista, is running for the Maine State Senate. Colleen is a long time political activist and advocate for kids and health care. Also her DPS is amazing. Mainers will be fortunate indeed if she wins to have her in there fighting for education, kids, health care, jobs and the 99% against the one of the absolute worst of the Tea Party Wing Nut Governors which were inflicted upon us all in the 2010 election patch. (I hate that patch.)

I asked Stardock president and CEO Brad Wardell what he thought of “Colleen’s World.” Wardell is known for designing as well as publishing memorable PC strategy games like Galactic Civilizations, The Political Machine and Sins of a Solar Empire. He also identifies as politically conservative.

Wardell told me he was “pretty disappointed to see the [Maine] Republicans using an online computer game character as the means to belittle someone running for office” and that it “makes the Republicans appear out of touch and dishonest to the millions of people who play online games.”

“I think it’ll backfire on them,” he added.

And in a post critical of Lachowicz’s political positions, conservative blogger David French acknowledges that the Maine GOP is “playing a dangerous and misguided political game.”

It’s dangerous because Colleen’s gaming hobby is now more popular than going to the movies, and increasing numbers of young people (my age and younger) see gaming as just another form of entertainment — a form superior in many ways to the entirely passive acts of television and movie-watching. In other words, when you mock gamers, you mock millions upon millions of entirely-normal, high-functioning individuals.

People tell me Colleen Lachowicz is an orc and I believe them because Sting [not the musician] is glowing … Maine simply cannot afford to have a level 85 Orcish Assassin riding her Albino Drake through the Senate chambers and intimidating colleagues with her Gylnian Ring of Ruination.

Lachowicz is squaring off against Republican incumbent Thomas Martin, Jr., elected to represent the second district of the Maine State Senate in 2010. Martin has so far offered no comment on his party’s attacks, and the website itself tucks a disclaimer away at bottom reading “Not authorized by any candidate.”

We’re each accountable for the things we say — even more so when running for elected office — and there’s nothing wrong with challenging Lachowicz on the merits of what she’s said, online or off. But tarring her or any candidate with the “plays video games” brush is irresponsible and dishonest, a ploy to shame her by playing up hackneyed stereotypes about the sort of people — all 183 million of us in the U.S. alone — who play video games.

Whoever authorized “Colleen’s World” owes both Lachowicz and video gamers in general a sincere apology.

"It’s dangerous because Colleen’s gaming hobby is now more popular than going to the movies,"

OOPS! Once again, Republicans go their main strategy of spreading ignorance based fear. Only to find out its not 1982 anymore. They really are the party of old ignorant people. At least that is who they target with stuff like this.

It is amazing how Republicans prove time and time again how stupid and straight ignorant they are. I think inbreeds have more brain cells than most of these clowns...

If you noticed I'm not saying ALL Republicans are dumb asses. I'd like to give them some benefit of the doubt even though every single one I've came across has been a lost cause, with a case of "need brain transplant ASAP." BUT I'm still hoping one day that somebody smart will join them and proves us wrong.

I'm not on anyone's side. I am not a sheep who follows a bunch of other sheep. It's kind of like religion... Most people just want to fit it and belong to something. Some make a better choice than the others- of course I am referring here to Republicans who spew nonsense day and night. And now this...

As a World of Warcraft player of 8 years - I started in Beta in 2004 and have been playing ever since - I feel quite offended ... once again. There is always somebody slamming the most popular and most played MMO in the world. Somebody always have something negative to say. Why is that? Main GOP u jelly or what?

Every person has passion for something. For me and Colleen, the passion is to play WoW, experience an adventure, and hangout with friends - not just online friends; there are lots of families, friends from high school, college, or workplace playing together. For the most part majority of WoW players are just normal people you see on the streets but unlike some of you, instead of hanging at the mall all day, they prefer to do what they enjoy the most, which is play video games.

I personally have been a gamer since I was about 8-9 y/o. It all started with Commodore 64, Mario Brothers, Donkey Kong and Spy vs. Spy - if you don't remember any of those four things, you are a n00b to me :) but that's a different bed time story...

Just as board games, video games are nothing more than the same type of entertainment. I remember getting hooked or seeing my friends get hooked on Monopoly board game. We would play that ish every day...all day long. We simply did what we enjoyed... Just like some people go play golf - to me that's not even remotely interesting but you don't see me posting slander about golf players being useless beings in our society. Everybody enjoys something else, please get that through your thick and half empty skulls once and for all.

I would also like to add something specifically directed to the Maine Republican Party. If you are going to try to bash somebody on something you don't know ANYTHING about, just simply refrain from it cause you make people sad in their pants srsly... Here are few things from the domain you PAID for just to bash your opposition:

1. "She and the members of her “Wreck List Guild”—Colleen/Santiaga’s WoW online alliance—post comments to each other on liberal online forums including the Daily Kos, where they discuss politics, military policies, and WoW battle tactics." - Is this supposed to be a problem? R you butt hurt they are practicing their freedom of speech?

2. "And yes Deb- rogues are fun! You get the hang of stabbing after a whille." - Again, how is this a problem? She's simply sharing her experience playing a rogue... it's all about stabbing and they always do it from BEHIND! - I'm sure if she said that, you would have highlighted this too.

3. "Studies have found the average WoW gamer is 28, and spends 22.7 hours a week playing in Azeroth" - These statistics are from July 28, 2005. The game was first released on November 23, 2004... WoW at the time did not have over 10 mil players worldwide and things have changed since 2005. This is why I have issues with your skewed reporting cause you're spreading lies and slander...but then again, that's pretty typical for Republicans anyway. No surprise there.

4. GOP flier: http://timenerdworld.files.wor... - Here is the thing...if you knew anything about WoW, you could figure out whether Colleen spends "hundreds of hours" playing WoW. I will attempt to teach you something - just make sure your brains don't explode. There are three type of players in WoW: 1) Casual player - plays only few times a week for few hours and either knocks out few quests and hit the battlegrounds few times, 2) Hardcore raider - plays every day, 8+ hours a day (either part time job, rich, rich parents or retired - ya, that's right.... we have grandpas and grandmas playing WoW), 3) Chinese Gold Farmers - all the y do is farm gold all day long; they hang out in one area and steal kills from "n00bs" who try to complete their quests; sometimes they group for instances and steal all the loot from other players...oh whoa... leaving a trail of dead bodies and stealing sounds awfully like a typical Republican...

*Insert close enough meme*

Moving on... I know your brain capacity is almost reaching its limits or maybe it already exploded, but here is the main problem I have. You linked Colleen's WoW armory link on your domain http://www.colleensworld.com/ , so I went and checked out her gear http://us.battle.net/wow/en/ch... - She has a bunch of blues + average item level 345 + most items are from 5 men instances + some items were bought with "Justice Points) (acquired from instances or PvP) + Honorable Lifetime kills 2748 (very low compared to e.g. my Paladin who I made last year and who currently has 10191 hks) + Activity Feed last login 9/16 (check other dates to see how "very" active, NOT, she has been in WoW) = ALL THESE FACTORS EQUAL THAT YOU FAIL MISERABLY AND ONCE AGAIN SPREAD LIES AND SLANDER.

Oh and you make me sad in my pants... :((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((

Like the Professor from Futurama would say - I don't wanna live on this planet anymore...

One more thing before I go. You registered Colleen's domain http://www.colleensworld.com/ @ IP 66.228.54.120 through https://www.domainsbyproxy.com... - now that's fkin sad. You are nothing but bunch of ball less mother efers. Stop being a bunch of cowards and show us the names behind this fkin atrocious domain that ONLY manages to take up room in the cyber space....That ish should go straight into the black hole of the cyber universe *le sigh*

And to my WoW buddies, see you in Azeroth, you bunch of "unfit" human beings :)

have grandpas and grandmas playing WoW), 3) Chinese Gold Farmers - all the y do

is farm gold all day long; they hang out in one area and steal kills from

"n00bs" who try to complete their quests; sometimes they group for

instances and steal all the loot from other players...oh whoa... leaving a

trail of dead bodies and stealing sounds awfully like a typical Republican...*Insert close enough meme*

Moving on... I know your brain capacity is almost reaching its limits or maybe it already exploded, but here is the main problem I have. You linked Colleen's WoW armory link on your domain http://www.colleensworld.com/ , so I went and checked out her gear http://us.battle.net/wow/en/ch... - She has a bunch of blues + average item level 345 + most items are from 5 men instances + some items were bought with "Justice Points) (acquired from instances or PvP) + Honorable Lifetime kills 2748 (very low compared to e.g. my Paladin who I made last year and who currently has 10191 hks) + Activity Feed last login 9/16 (check other dates to see how "very" active, NOT, she has been in WoW) = ALL THESE FACTORS EQUAL THAT YOU FAIL MISERABLY AND ONCE AGAIN SPREAD LIES AND SLANDER.

Oh and you make me sad in my pants... :((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((

Like the Professor from Futurama would say - I don't wanna live on this planet anymore...

One more thing before I go. You registered Colleen's domain http://www.colleensworld.com/ @ IP 66.228.54.120 through https://www.domainsbyproxy.com... - now that's fkin sad. You are nothing but bunch of ball less mother efers. Stop being a bunch of cowards and show us the names behind this fkin atrocious domain that ONLY manages to take up room in the cyber space....That ish should go straight into the black hole of the cyber universe *le sigh*

And to my WoW buddies, see you in Azeroth, you bunch of "unfit" human beings :)

There is a real, live fantasy world and it's lived in by 40 million Teabaggin' redneck idiots who listen to nothing but Fox, Rush, and the right-wing blogosphere. They literally live in their own little made-up bubble of information. They even have their own Wikipedia!

The "someone" is David Sorensen, Maine Republican Party's "Communications Director."

They shelled out $14,000.00 for that libelous piece of garbage web page (which includes seven year old thread comments from *2005* on DailyKos), as well as however much more $$ wasted on fliers and postage.

Into the landfill we go!

*FAIL

Ironically, Colleen's FB Senate page currently has theirs trounced, re: "likes," which I think is a hoot.

David Sorensen isn't ready for social media 3.0 primetime, by any stretch of the imagination.

So first lets get something straight...people who play WoW are NOT gamers. First hand experience has shown me people who play WoW are...for the most part...complete and total dorks. Gamers are often geeks, nerds, whatever but NOT usually dorks. Webster makes no distinction but I assure you major distinction. That being said her bio makes her sound like a genuinely nice person who has spent much of her life dedicated to helping others (social work, fostering children, etc etc etc). UNFORTNATELY...looking at her picture she does fit into the category of DORK. Oh and if Mitt Romney had an alter ego in WoW do you thing that the democrats would hesitate for a MILLISECOND to make fun of him? They would be all over it...heck they are attacking his religion in a country where we are supposed to respect each other in that regard. So is it fair they are attacking her for her WoW...yes in a political arena all is fair in love and war. Is it nice? Absolutely not. Do I support it no. Do personal attacks on people make me like a democrat or republican candidate more...no. Wow is she a dork.

geez one of these posts was a draft I thought. Sorry I am annoyed with myself now having read this post twice. I have a better post that didn't even make the cut for some reason. Oh well. Oh and sicne I am back here...maybe the republican should create an account as a Call of Duty player...its more of a republican game anyway...wars and such. :)

The Maine Republican Party did not go after Colleen because she plays World of Warcraft. The Maine Republican Party went after her because she wrote a truly wonderful opinion piece published online right here: www.onlinesentinel.com/opinion...

Unfortunately when they went looking for dirt to discredit her, all they could come up with is her World of Warcraft stuff and the fact that she once said the c-word in reference to the vagina monologues

Geez I am torn here. I mean as a gamer myself I find it cruel to pick on someone for their past time. I know this because friends and coworkers kid with me all the time for my FPS addiction even though I rarely have time to play anymore. Then on the other hand I think about EVERY person I have personally known who played WoW for more than a few weeks before quitting and only one thing comes to mind...DORK. Not geek...not nerd...those are actually complements compared to DORK. No life, no people skills...a dork in a room full of losers is the guy the losers make fun of. So the real question is not whether to vote for someone who is a GAMER...the real question is who wants to vote for the DORK?

Even more ironically before hitting the post button I decided I better check her picture in case she is a first class hottie with a doctorate in rocket science or something. Nope...she is an average female with average education and looks like most people I know that play WoW (not a complement). That being said it does sound like she is a very good person given her career in social work and taking in foster children and things. It puts me in a tough place...I like her for who and what she is...but then there is the whole other issue....she's a total dork.

I like your post, though I believe you over generalize regarding those who play WoW. I know of many professionals, (Military personnel, a lawyer, nurses etc...) who play Wow. And for those who may not know, a dork may be defined as a whale penis (still being hashed out on the net). On a side note- WoW went to crap when they released the panda expansion pack. Panda-ering to the gazillion plus Chinese players and gold farmers. LOL dorks!

So you're judging her by her looks and by generalizing, not by her fitness for the position. Next time you feel like complaining about the lack of female gamers, make sure you take a long look in the mirror... guys like you are a big part of the problem.

Part of what problem? The problem that WoW players typically have no life outside of WoW? I am sorry I insulted you because you are a WoW gamers....who is also probably a DORK. Seriously that game sucks and the people...the one's that I KNOW PERSONALLY...are massive dorks with no real life social skills. Not one person I know not even 2 or 3 but the 5 or 6 people that I know are ALL socially inept.

Actually, I've never played WOW a day in my life and never will... I don't play games that you have to pay for on a monthly basis. I only buy the old fashioned ones that you pay for once and that's it. I just don't like it when people stereotype,... and you just tried to drag me into that stereotype as well and made yourself look like an idiot. "O HAY I KNOW 6 PEOPLE THAT PLAY THIS AND THEY ALL SUCK." Dude, every socially inept person that I know brushes their teeth and showers, so that's clearly proof that proper hygiene causes all of their troubles.

And I also don't like it when guys are so judgmental towards women who don't look like a 9.5/10, and I doubt that you have Zac Efron looks yourself. I doubt that you even have Vince Vaughn looks.

And next on the GOP Agenda list, they will try to have her arrested for hate crimes for punting a gnome and backstabbing a dwarf.

I should go into hiding. I imagined I'll be slapped with charges of animal cruelty (for skinning bunnies in WoW) to genocide and other warcrimes for all the video games I played if I look at a Republican funny.

Sounds like the typical deep thought processes of the GOP Brain trust. The only question is whether this is a far right wing evangelical knee jerk reaction, or is this more of a banal "We're out of ideas so let's throw this and see if it sticks" kind of thing.

LOL.. Wow.. Dems are doing ANYTHING to try and get Obama re-elected. Obama stated in his first quarter that Xbox was responsible for the obesity in America... How pathetic are the left??? Do not stop at anything to try and lie to forward their pathetic cause...

What he said was to put away the X-box and put the kids to bed at a reasonable hour. In other words, school comes before play... any responsible parent knows this. That's a far cry from saying that someone is unfit for office because they have a character on a video game.

I have to chuckle and shake my head that they are attacking her fantasy character - something that is not even real. They also are aware many of their voters play online games? The one I play has a very large amount of folks 40 to 60 - no I am not kidding.

They DO know the difference between real and fantasy right? So what is next, saying any0ne that watches a TV series with witches thereby promotes witchcraft and the occult?

I play online games - and the amount of information to need to learn just to survive 30 minutes in a game is astounding. Not just that, your critical thinking skills are continually challenged as well as your making snap decisions that can cost you a squad-wipe > from a mission that might of taken you hours to get just to that exact point.

Alot of the online games I play have squad and solo missions. One of the newer missions takes me 3 hours just to navigate - probably because I am new in that instance. But the thing is, you have to ensure you are outfitted (everything you need and the correct gear), you do your homework about the instance by studying maps and talking to others that have gone thought it. You understand the mobs and bosses within - what they are weak to / strong to - etc... You make a game plan before even entering. It tests your metal.

The mmorpg I play now, I am oddly PvE - player vs environment and I am an Artisan. This means I craft and I craft items where the market is untouched. I also go out to the lower level areas and help them and mentor those I see struggling. It is fantasy true, but it tasks your decision making skills, as well as your patience and ability to get along. Many young ones that play these games are exceptionally aggressive and you learn to deal with them through talk. These people.. really need to get out of the dark ages...

Who says she's addicted? Is fake violence (if you really want to call it so) real violence? (is a fake person, such as a manikin, a person?.. obviously not.) And, how do you know it is a "mindless game"?I'm not defending WoW, but I'm illustrating how misinformed you are.

Well, but maybe a person who hopes to hold high office might spend their free time a little more wisely, by studying current events and American history, for example. I would feel much more comfortable with such a person than a wiz bang gamer.

I like how the GOP thinks that playing make-believe with dragons and fairies and orcs should disqualify you from office.... and at the same time thinks that NOT playing make-believe with resurrected messiahs, virgin births, talking snakes, and 6-day-created planets on a whim should disqualify you from office.

GOP - way to further disconnect yourself from the real world and today's millenials and gen-Xers. Heck, I've always voted Republican and I will vote for Romney. But you guys are showing just how out of touch you are with the America of today.

More elitist BS from the repubs! I remember when they attacked Obama as being elitist because he wanted spicy mustard on his burger (LOL) and now they have the nerve to pull this crap. You're irresponsible, lazy, and every other damn thing if you play video games now. I got news for 'em, most younger folks GREW UP with video games... just shows how out of touch these yahoos really are.

I'll add that I'd be more likely to vote for Colleen BECAUSE she's not ashamed to play video games. She's like me, she'd fight for people like me. No putting on airs here. She's not just some suit and tie pretending to be above it all.